Blackhawks Stanley Cup Parade: No Booze, No Ticker Tape, New Route

DOWNTOWN — The "official" parade celebrating the Blackhawks Stanley Cup win will run down Washington Street, not Michigan Avenue, but there will be no ticker tape.

City officials on Wednesday announced the details of the parade, scheduled for Friday, and there are a few differences from the parade celebrating the team's win in 2010.

There will be no cannons shooting newspaper in a ticker-tape style parade, like the White Sox had in 2005, said Bill McCaffrey, a city spokesman. But there will be confetti when the parade hits Columbus Drive.

PARADE ROUTE

At 10:30 a.m., members of the team will board double-decker buses at the United Center at 1901 Madison St. on the Near West Side. They will then head to Washington and Des Plaines streets, although the route the buses will take from the United Center wasn't immediately released.

Although members of the team carried champagne bottles on the buses during the last parade, city officials stressed that fans will not be allowed to have alcohol along the parade route or on trains under a "zero tolerance" policy.

Bicycles are also banned from trains Friday.

Those with large bags or backpacks will go through additional security, according to police, and coolers are not allowed.

Officials encourage fans to stay hydrated during the predicted 77-degree day, but only closed water bottles will be allowed into the rally. Vendors will sell water and water fountains will be onsite.